The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 31, 1996
Filed:
Aug. 10, 1995
Minoru Akagawa, Fremont, CA (US);
Intelmatec Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus, for sequentially delivering articles to a specified article-receiving position from each of a plurality of cassettes each containing a plurality of the articles slidably one above another, includes endless chains with cassette-carrying bars attached thereto for longitudinally transporting an array of such cassettes along and above an elongated top plate, an elevator for lifting one cassette at a time, and a pusher assembly for pushing one article at a time from the cassette lifted to a target height by the elevator. The chains are disposed near one side edge of the top plate and the top plate is provided with a transversely extending cut through which the elevator can pass vertically without being interfered with the cables. Guide rails and a roller guide are provided to keep the cassettes horizontally as they are transported longitudinally. Detectors warn an operator when an unloaded cassette comes close to the downstream end of the cables such that the operator has an extended period of time during which unloaded cassettes should be removed and reloaded cassettes should be supplied.